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Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Sandra & Melanie

Seen on the Purple Line to Linden at about 8:20 a.m., September 10th, 2012
"Okay, well we should find out where undergraduate admissions office is."

"Right, Mom."

Sandra runs her finger across her iPad. "Let's see, we don't want to go to the music center...oh. It looks like it's over here, on the north side of campus. I think." Melanie tugs on her scarf instead of responding. Sandra moves her too-trendy sunglasses on top of her head. "Did you get a confirmation email about your tour?"

"Yeah."

"Well pull it up! It might have more information about where we should go."

Melanie digs her phone out of her bag, but her fingers open her Twitter feed instead of her email account. She just doesn't want to think about it. Her mom is the one that wants her to go to Northwestern anyway. Well, either Northwestern or University of Chicago--easily the most prestigious schools in the state. Melanie can't face that kind of pressure.

Sure, her grades are good enough to get into either one. But what happens then? What if she can't meet the expectations of their long-standing, sterling reputations? What if she makes nothing of herself? What if she makes no friends? What if she picks the wrong major? What if she can't figure out a major to pick at all? What if she's buried in student debt for the rest of her days? What if she gets lost on campus? What if she hates the cafeteria food?

Melanie isn't stupid. She's well aware that many of these fears are not exclusively related to Northwestern or University of Chicago. But they'd clearly be easier to deal with at a worse school. A school that is comfortingly awful. A DeVry, or maybe an SIU. Melanie's confident she could succeed in a place like Carbondale.

No offense to anyone who goes to DeVry or SIU. I went to Loyola, so it's not like I'm an Ivy Leaguer or anything. Hey! You should listen to and/or purchase my sister's new EP for a mere $6. Bittersweet Drive's beautiful folk music will bring you much delight. Also, you should watch this. It will bring you many giggles.